With the upcoming release of the K-5 strain of the rabbit haemorrhagic virus disease (RHDV1-K5), also known as rabbit calicivirus (RCV), the New Zealand Companion Animal Council (NZCAC) urges all rabbit owners to vaccinate their rabbits immediately or ensure their rabbits are up to date with vaccinations.

It has been confirmed that the virus will be released around New Zealand, including at 100 sites throughout Otago, during March and April 2018.

New Zealand is now home to one of the most sophisticated and intelligent systems in the world to find your lost pet.

‘PiP’ Facial Recognition, as it is known, will revolutionise the way we reunite lost pets with their families according to the New Zealand Companion Animal Council (NZCAC). The Council is the owner of the New Zealand Companion Animal Register (NZCAR), which has now added this highly advanced facial recognition system to the existing New Zealand Companion Animal Register services. “Combined with the New Zealand Companion Animal Register microchip database and Scanner Angel smart network ‘PiP’ Facial Recognition will add another dimension to helping find lost animals” says the NZCAC Manager, Dr Jessica Walker.

News Release

The National Cat Management Strategy Group (NCMSG) is pleased to provide you with the finalised National Cat Management Strategy document. This has been the culmination of three years’ worth of work after embarking on this important journey in August 2014.

We are incredibly cognisant of the strong and disparate emotional responses that discussions around cat management evoke. However, the current status quo is not in the best interests of animal welfare, biodiversity and the community.

The New Zealand Companion Animal Council (NZCAC) is pleased to see local councils coming together to discuss the issue of cat management in New Zealand. The NZCAC’s Manager, Dr Jessica Walker, is optimistic about progress in this area, however, cautions local councils that national legislation must promote responsible cat ownership rather than solely focusing on controlling cats. “National legislation must provide a carrot rather than a big stick approach to cat management in New Zealand” says Dr Walker. “Producing legislation that incorporates responsible cat ownership practices supports the cat-owning community in being responsible owners. The majority of cat owners rightly consider their cat one of the family and want to do what is right for the welfare of their cat.”

The report on "Companion Animals in New Zealand 2016" has now been released. This report follows up on the earlier 2011 report and is free to download. It may not be reproduced without permission from the NZCAC. Requests can be made to the Secretary at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..